Direction signal



March 27, 1928.

D. W. PRATT DIRECTION SIGNAL Filed t 21, 1926 4 Sheets-Shget 1 INVENTOR Do/v M PRATT ATTORN EY March 27, 1928.

D. W. PRATT DIRECTION SIGNAL 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct.

F ATTORNEY March 27, 1928.

D. W. PRATT DIRECTION SIGNAL 4 "M w K m \N R M w/ m hm Q mp M L? N O Q M %m m Mn :N

H ill 3 mm nw Flled Oct D FL Q Mm mm mm \W awn Patented Mar. 27, 1928.

UNITED STATES DON W. PRATT, OF SANTA MONICA, CALIFORNIA.

DIRECTION SIGNAL.

Application filed October 21, 1926. Serial No. 143,168.

My invention relates to direction signals for vehicles of the character embodied in my co-pending application Serial No. 88,382, filed February 15, 1926, in which the signal is adapted to be restored to a normal position through operation of the steering wheel and after the vehicle has completed the turning of a corner.

It is a purpose of my present invention to provide a direction signal having a signal element movable to give any one of a plurality of signal indications and mechanism by which the signal element is movable from a normal position at the side of the vehicle to a signalling position in which it is projected from the side of the vehicle so as to be readily seen by motorists or pedestrians approaching the signal from either direction, the mechanism further operating to restore the signal element to normal position and such mechanism being controlled by the manipulation of the steering wheel so that the signal element is returned to normal position only after the turning of a corner has been completed. I

I will describe only one form of direction signal embodying my invention, and will then point out the novel features thereof in claims.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a view showing in vertical fragmentary section a motor vehicle having applied thereto one form of direction signal embodying my invention, with a portion of the latter in section;

Figure 2 is a view showing in top plan the direction signal shown in Figure 1 and in applied position to the motor vehicle;

Figure 3 is a view showing the signal in side elevation, and with the parts thereof in the same position as illustrated in Figure 2:

Figure 4 is a fragmentary plan View partly in section of the direction signal;

Figures 5 and 6 are enlarged detail perspective views of parts of the mechanism comprised in the direction signal;

Figure 7 is a bottom plan view of the dire tion signal with the frame thereof in section:

Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 2, with the parts thereof in the position which with the arm, as will be understood.

they occupy at the initiation of movement of the signal; 1

Figure 9 is a fragmentary plan view of the signal, with the signal element in signailing position and the parts of the mechanism occupying corresponding positions;

Figure 10 is a view similar to Figure 9, showing the positions the parts of the mechan ism occupy during the return of the signal element to normal position.

Figure 11 is a plan view of that portion of the direction signal associated with the steering wheel of the motor vehicle and in applied position to the latter;

Figure 12 is a sectional view taken on the line 12-12 of Figure 1.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts in each of the views.

Referring specifically to the drawings, my invention in its present embodiment comprises a frame designated generally at F which, as shown in Figure 1, is secured to the rear side of the dash D of a motor vehicle so as to be in spaced relation to the left side of the cowl C. An arm 15, preferably in the form of a channel bar to permit concealing of certain parts when the arm is in projected position, is mounted for movement through the frame F and through a suitable opening 16 in the cowl C, the arm being supported in the frame by rollers 17 and 18 constructed in the manner shown in Figures 7 and 8 to perinitthe passage of certain elements associated As clearly illustrated in Figure 3, the frame is supported on the dash in an inclined posi tion in order to permit gravity to act on the arm in returning the latter to a retracted position. However, the outer end of the arm is disposed horizontally to properly support a signal element E thereon and at a point exteriorly of the cowl G. In the normal position of the arm 15, as illustrated in Figure 3, the signal element E is disposed adjacent to the side of the cowl C, and through the provision of suitable mechanism this arm 15 is adapted to be moved to a projected position as illustrated in Figure 9, in which the signal element is moved to a signalling position in spaced relation to the side of the vehicle so that it can be readily observed at points in advance and at the rear of the vehicle. The

signal element E comprises a box 19 preferably of the form shown and having its sides constructed to provide a plurality of signal indications. In the present instance one side of the box is provided with a red panel 20 for the purpose of giving a stop indication. Two sides of the box are formed with arrows 21 which are designed to indicate the direc tion in which the vehicle is to turn, depending upon the position of the box. The front side of the box, as when viewed in Figure 2, may contain a yellow panel 22 or a red panel to give the stop indication. This box 19 contains a lamp 23 designed to illuminate all of the sides of the box to render the above indication visible at night. The box is supported onthe arm for rotational movement in order that any desired signal indication may be presented forwardly and rearwardly with respect to the vehicle. In the present instance the box normally assumes the position shown in Figures 2 and 3, which is a stop position. From this normal position the box is capable of being moved ninety degrees in one direction or the other to give right or left hand turn indications through the medium of the arrows 2]..

During movement of the arm 15 to its projected position the lamp 23 is adapted to be illuminated intermittently so as to pro duce a flashing effect and is maintained i1- luminated while the arm occupies its projected position. For this purpose a contact member 23 is secured to and insulated from the frame F in a position to be successively engaged by a plurality of contact strips 23 insulated from each other and secured to and insulated from the arm'15. Upon engagement of the contact strips with the member 23 as the arm moves to projected position anelectrical circuit is completed through a wire 523 leading from a battery B through member 23 to any one of contact strips 23*, through wire 23 connected to strips and leadingto lamp 23, the other side of lamp being grounded to complete the circuit to grounded side of battery B.

In the operation of the direction signal it is. moved to indicate a right or left hand turn in advance of the movement of the arm 15 to projected position, and to secure these movements the following mechanism is provided: As shown in Figure 1, the steering post 24 is provided with a pair of brackets 25 in which is journaled a tubular shaft 26, while journaled within the shaft is a solid shaft .27 having its upper end bent at right angles to provide an operating arm 28 carrying a lug 29 adapted to engage a lug on one of the spokes of the steering wheel 31. It is important to note that the arm 28 is suiiiciently resilient to permit of a slight flexing thereof and that such arm rotates ahout an axis parallel to the axis of rotation of the steering wheel 31. As shown in neeaeee Figure 2, the lower end of the shaft :27 carries an arm 32, and as shown in Figure 12 this arm carries a spring pressed latching lug adapted to engage within any one of three notches 34 in a plate 35 on the lower bracket 25. The lug 33 in conjunction with the recesses functions to rcleasably secure the arm 32 in any one of three positions for a purpose to be hereinafter described. The arm 32 is operatively connected to an arm 36 through the medium of a cable 3?, the arm 36 being fixed to a shaft 38 journaled in plates 39 and i0 su u iorted on the frame F. The arm 32 is also opcrutively connected to an arm l1 through a cable 42, the arm ll be ing fixed to a shaft 43 journaled in the plates 39 and 40. It is to be noted that the cables 37and 4-2 are connected to the opposite ends of the arm 32 so that as the arm'is rotated. in one direction or the other a pull will be exerted on one cable or the other to actuate the corresponding arm 36 or 1-1. The arm 41 is connected to one end of a cable trained about a pulley rotatable on the inner end of the arm 15. The opposite end of the cable 44: connected to an arm 46 fixed .to the shaft 38. As shown in Figures 3 and 7, the pulley is disposed within a housing t'l' and is fixed to s aft 48 journaled in the arm 15 and p iued with a sprocket wheel 49 engaged by a chain 50. The chain is disposed at the under side of the arm and its ends are connected to two cables 51, the opposite ends of the cables being connected to a similar chain 552 trained about a sprocket wheel 53 .l'lTflKl to a tubular shaft 54 journaled in the outer end of the arm 15. To this shaft 54; the box 19 is i'liiOil so that rotation of the shaft effects rotation of the box. The chains and cables provide an operative connection between the she its 48 and 54: so that rotation of the pulley 4-53 inone direction or the other will e'h'cct a corresponding movement of the signal host and thus cause the latter to occupy either oi its ninety'degree positions to display the arrows in the manner previously described. The pulley is .rotatcd'iu a clockwise ditcction to more the signal box to the right hand position shown in Figure 8 through opera" tion of the following mechanism: By rotating the arm 28 to the position shown in solid lines in Figure 11 a corresponding move ment is imparted to the shaft 9.7 and hence to the arm 32, thereby exerting a pull on the cable 42 and operating the are: 1-1 to exert a pull on the cable 2%. thus rotat ing the pulley in a clockwise direction. (lonversely, the signal. ho is moved to the other ninety degree position by rotating the pulley in a counter-clockwise direction as when viewed in Figure 2. This n'iovcn'icnt ot' the pulley is effected as follows: The arm is moved from its neutral position to the left as when viewed in Figure 11, thereby rotating the arm 32 so as to exert a pull on the cable 37 which, through the medium of the arm 36, shaft 38 and arm 46, exerts a pull on the cable 44 in the opposite direction, thus rotating the pulley in a counter-clockwise direction. In either extreme position of the arm 82 the spring pressed lug 33 serves to retain the arm against return to the intermediate or neutral position, and similarly the lug also serves to releasably secure the arm in the neutral position.

Although I have shown and will now describe power-operated mechanism for moving the arm 15 to and from projected position, it is to be understood that manually operable means could be provided. This mechanism in the present instance comprises a driving shaft journaled in the frame F and provided at one end with a grooved pulley 56 which is connected to a similar pulley 57 by a belt 58 all disposed at the front side of the dash as clearly illustrated in Figure 1. The pulley 57 is fixed to the rear end of a shaft 59 which extends along one side of the motor of the vehicle, with its forward end provided with a pulley 60 which contacts with the usual fan belt 61 so as to be driven by the latter and to thereby effect driving of the shaft 55. As shown in Fig ure 4, the inner end of the shaft 55 is pro vided with a pinion 62 which is adapted to mesh with either of a pair of pinions 6i and 64, the latter being fixed to one end of tubular shafts 65 and 66, respectively, movable longitudinally on axles 67 and 68, respectively, secured within the frame F. The opposite ends of the shafts 65 and 66 carry annular lips 69 which function as collars for shifting the shafts to cause meshing and unmeshing of the pinions 63 and 64 with respect to the pinion 62. These collars are engaged by a shifting arm 70 secured to a shaft 71 journaled in the frame F and carrying an arm 72 disposed above the arm 15 as shown in Figure 3 and having pivoted thereon at the point indicated at 73 a plate 74. This plate is adapted to be engaged by a U-shaped yoke 75 rotatable on the shaft 71 and yieldably urged to the position shown in Figure 2 by means of a spring 76 (Figure 3). The yoke 75 is adapted to be moved from its urged position to the position shown in Figure 9, and to this end the yoke is operatively connected to the shafts 38 and 43 by cables 78 and 79 connected to arms 80 and 81, respectively, fixed to the shafts 38 and 43, respectively. A spring 82 connects the cables with the yoke in order to provide a vieldable connection between the arms 80 and 81 and the yoke, for a purpose to be hereinafter described.

Secured to and trained about the shafts 65 and 66 are cables 84 and 85, respectivel the cable 84 as shown in Figure 7 extending along the under side of the arm 15 and secured at'its end to the shaft 48. The cable 85 extends forwardly beneath the arm 15 and is secured to the arm at its end in an eye 86. Thus the shafts 65 and 66 constitute reels for winding the cables 84 and 85 to project or retract the arm 15 in respect to the side of the vehicle in the following manner. Rotation of the shaft 65 causes the cable 84 to be wound thereon, thereby exerting a pull on the inner end of the arm 15 and thus causing the arm to be moved outwardly and thereby projected from the side of the vehicle. The arm is returned to its retracted position by actuation of the shaft 66, the latter shortening the cable 85 and thereby exerting an inward pull on the arm 15. Either of these shafts are driven accordingly as one pinion 63 or 64 or the other meshes with the driving pinion 62. As the meshing of the pinions is dependent upon the positions of the shafts 65 and 66 it will be clear that the operation of the shifting arm 70 will control the projection and retraction of the arm 15. The shifting arm 7 O is operated as follows: Upon movement of the yoke 75 from the position shown in Figure 2 to the position shown in Figure 9, a depending finger 75'- engages a lip 74 of the plate 74, thereby shifting the plate and the arm 72 to which it is attached from the normal position shown in Figure 2 to the position shown in Figure 8. Such movement of the arm 72 causes the shifting arm 70 to assume the position shown in Figure 8, and undersuch movement the shaft 65 is shifted to cause its pinion 63 to mesh with the driving pinion 62. Thus the shaft 65 is now rotated to cause an outward movement of the arm 15 through the medium of the cable 84. The arm continues to move outwardly until a lug 87 on the arm engages and moves the plate to the position shown in Figure 9. \Vith this movement of the. plate the arm 72 is moved to the intermediate or neutral position shown in Figure 9, in which the shaft 65 is moved to unmesh the pinion 63 with the pinion 62. Thus outward movement of the arm 15 is disc0ntiuued with the signal element in signalling position. The arm 15 remains in projected position until the yoke 75 is released, when it will tend to return to its original position under the action of the spring 76. During its return a finger 75 of the yoke engages a lip 74 of the plate. thus swinging the plate to the position shown in Figure 10 and thereby actuating the arm 72 to shift the shaft 66 into a hosition in which its pinion 64 now meshes with the driving pinion 62. Thus the shaft 66 is now rotated to wind its cable thereon and thereby move the arm 15 inwardly to return the signal element to its normal position. The arm 15 continues to move inwardly until a lug 88 thereon abuts the plate 74, when the latter is shifted about its pivotal point to release the yoke and pertill mit the latter to return to normal position. in its continued movementthe lug through the medium of the plate 7% returns the arm 72 to its normal or neutral position as illustrated in I igure 2, whereby the pinion 64 is moved out of mesh with the pinion 62 so that the shaft 66 no longer driven and the arm comes to rest. it will be noted that the n'iovemcnt ot the plate under the movement of the his" t is limited by upstanding lingers 7 formed 0. the plate and engaging within recesses 5 of the yoke 75.

From the foregoing operation of the arm 15 it will be manifest that the movement elf the yoke controls the projection and retraction of the arm. The yoke is adapted to be opera ed from the arm :28 sin'iultaneously with the movement of the signal element to either of its ninety degree positions. When moving the arm 28 to the right hand extreme position as shown in Figure 11, rotation of the shaft 43 is eifected as has been dcscribed, and with such rotation the arm 81 through the medium of the cable 79 and the spring 82 swings the yolze from the normal position shown in Figure Qto the position shown in Figure 8, so that the arm 15-hogins to move outwardly at substantially the same time that the signal element is shitted. to the right hand ninety degree position. l Vhen the arm 15 reaches its outermost position it comes to rest so that the signal is now clearly displayed from one side of the car so as to be readily observed by approaching motorists. Thus a right hand turn indication is now given, and when executing such a turn the operator rotates the wheel to the right as indicated. by the arrow in Figure 11, thus moving the lug 30 to a position at the right of the lug 529. In complet ing the turn the steering wheel is rotated in the opposite direction, and during this movement the lug 30 engages the lug 29 and thus returns the arm 28 to normal position, it be ing noted that the arm rotates about a center eccentric with respect to the center oi? the steering wheel as has been described, so that the lugs 29 and 30 move through different arcs. The movement of the lug 30 is such that after it has returned the arm 28 to normal position it moves out of contact with the lug 29 and past the latter, the arm slightly flexing during such movement and subsequently returning to its normal position. With the return of the arm 28 to norma position the yoke is moved to he position shown in Figure 10, thus oper: the pinions to initiate a retracting nio the arm 15, when the lug tunct Or) iv -.o return the plate 74 and the yoke 7 back to normal position.

With this operation it will be seen that in the normal actuation of the steering wheel following the making of a turn, the signal is medium of the shaft the yoke '3'5 is a ain actuated to effect projection of the arm 15 and the subsequent retraction thereof through the return of he arm 28 to normal position by the coaction oi? the lugs 29 and 30.

Should it be desired to project the signal element from the side of the car when the elementis in its normal stop u'uijicz'at-iug position such operation is eh cred through the manipulation of handle secured to the shaft 26 and operating;- an arm 91. connected to an arm 92 by a cable 93. The arm 92 fixed to a shaft 94: journalcd in the plates 89 and t0, and this shaft is provided n h an arm 95 connected to the spi ng 89 ot the yoke Y5 by a cable 96. Through this mechanism the yoke 75 can be operated to control the projecting; and l'OlZlfilCililQ' movements of the arm 15 withoutdisturbing the normal position of the signal element. llt will of course be understood that it is necessary to manually return the arm 9i) to normal position in order to return the arm and signal element to retracted position.

Although I have herein shown and described only one term of direction signal embodying my invention, it is to be understood. that various chsnges may be made within the spirit of the invention, and the spirit and scope of the appeiuled claims.

I claim:

1. A direction si In-il for vehicles comprise ing an arm inovaliile to eitl 2r oi? two ere treine positions, a signal. element on the arm movable relatively to the latter to give any one of a plurality of signal indications, mechanism for moving the arm in one direction or the otheu and manually operable means for actuating; the signal element and controlling the mechanism to cause the arm to move first in one direction and then the other.

2. A direction signal for vehicles comprising an arm mounted for reciprocating; movement a signal element on the arm, mechanism for reciprocating the arm, and moons adapted to be actuated by the rotation of the steering wheel for coi'itrolling said mechanism to, cause movement of the arm in one direction or the other according as the steering wheel is rotated in one direction or the other.

[i direction signal for vehicles as enibodied in claim 2, where n last means includes a resilient arm movable about an axis eccentric with respect to the axis oi? the steering wheel and having a projection till thereon, and a projection adapted to be mounted on the steering wheel to engage the first projection and thus move the arm in one direction, the arm flexing during such movement to permit its projection to disengage the projection on the steering wheel.

l. A direction signal for vehicles comprising an arm mounted for reciprocating movement, a signal element on the arm, mechanism for reciprocating the arm, an operating member manually operable to control the mechanism and movable from a normal position to either of two extreme positions, a lug on the member, a second lug adapted to be mounted on a steering wheel, said member being resilient and movable about an axis adapted to be eccentric with respect to the axis ol the steering wheel whereby rotation of the steering wheel in one direction will cause its lug to wipe the member lug and return the member from either of its extreme positions to the normal position, all in a manner to allow the steering wheel lug to disengage the member lug when the member is returned to normal position.

5. A direction signal for vehicles comprising an arm mounted "for reciprocating movement, a signal element on the arm, and mechanism for actuating the arm comprising a pair of reels, cables trained about the reels and connected to the arm, and means for driving one reel or the other to effect winding or unwinding of the cables upon their respective reels whereby movement of the arm in one direction or the other is ell'ectcd.

(3. A direction signal. .tor vehicles as cinbodied in claim 5, wherein the means for driving one reel or the other is partly controlled by the movement of the arm in such manner that when the arm reaches its ex treme movement in one direction or the other the driving of either reel will be discontinued.

7. A direction signal for vehicles comprising an arm mounted for reciprocating movement, a signal element on the arm movable to give any one of a plurality of signal indications, driving means for the arm normally disconnected therefrom, mechanism by which the driving means can be operatively connected to the arm to move the latter in one direction or the other, and manually operable means for actuating the signal element and simultaneously actuating the mechanism in such manner that the signal element can be moved to a predetermined indicating position and the arm moved in one direction and then in the other direction, simultaneously returning the signal element to normal indicating position.

8. In combination, a motor vehicle body, a direction signal comprising an arm sup ported for movementin the body and at the side of the body so as to occupy a retracted position within the body and a projected position at the side of the body, a signal element on the arm at the outer side of the body movable to give any one of a plural ity of signal indications, means operable by the motor of the vehicle for moving the arm to projected or retracted position, and manually operable means for controlling the last means.

9. in combination, a motor vehicle body, a direction signal comprising an arm supported [or movement in the body and at the side of the body so as to occupy a retracted position within the body and a projected position at the side of the body, a signal element on the arm at the outer side 01 the body movable to give any one of a plurality of signal indications, means operable by the motor oil the vehicle for moving the arm to projected or retracted position, and means for controlling the last means which is manually operable to cause projection of the arm and operable by the steering wheel of the vehicle to eliect retraction of the arm.

to. In a direction signal, an arm supported for reciprocating movement, a signal on the arm, cables connected to the arm, reels about which the cables are trained, pinions on the reels, a driving shaft having a pinion thereon, said reels being shiftable to cause their respective pinions to engage or disengage the driving pinion, and means for shifting the reels comprising an arm engaging the reels, a shaft supporting the arm, a second arm on the shaft, a plate pivoted on the second arm, projections on the first arm adapted to engage the plate, and an operating member operable to move the plate to one extreme position in which the second shaft is actuated to cause the second arm to shift one 01 the reels to a position in which its opinion meshes with the pinion of the driving shaft and to thereby initiate movement of the first arm in one direction whereby one of the projections on the first arm is caused to engage said plate as the arm reaches its extreme movement in one direction to release the plate in respect to the operating member and to thus allow the second member to return to normal position in which the aforementioned reel is disconnected from the driving shaft, the said operating member being movable to another position in which it again engages the plate and thereby actuates the second member to shift the other reel so that its pinion meshes with the driving pinion to cause movement of the first arm in the other direction and whereby the other projection on the first arm is caused to engage the plate as the first arm reaches its extreme movement in the said direction to return the second member to normal position and to thereby shift the reel to a position in which its pinion is out of mesh with the driving pinion.

11. A direction signal for vehicles com prising an arm mounted for movement, a signal element on the arm movable to give any one of a plurality of signal indications, driving means i 01 the arm normally disoonnected therefrom, mechanism by which the driving means can. be operutively connected to the arm to move the latter in one three" tion or another and manually operable means for actuating the signal element and said mechanism in such manner that the 10 signal, element can be moved to a predeten mined indicating position or to a normal indicating poeition and the arm moved in one direction or the other according the ig nal element moves to one 01'- the other of its said positions.

DON W. PRATT. 

